That's what I retain from your post and it's very true. The reason is simple. If you can't recruit difference makers like the superteams do, you start off with 2 strikes against you. Last year, for example, Clemson recruited five 5 stars, including the best quarterback recruit. Top notch recruiting enables teams to plug and play (Dexter Lawrence's absence was hardly felt) and to reload instead of rebuilding. Notre Dame recruits ok but way below superteams (Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State).
I have no idea how this can get fixed, but until it is, no coach can bring ND to the promised land.